as a catholic . i have to ask why search for E.T.s now. when god has shown us who has an ear . that the E.Ts are demonic spirit beings . Not unless the church is refering to gods angels ; which wee may think are E.Ts do wee not wrestle agent not flesh and blood .but powers and pricapalitys and evil wicketness in high places or are wee all going to be deceved in jesus/s return
martin leckie7:12AM April 30, 2012
Could you please tell us what happened at this conference? It was held over a week ago, and I've found nothing anywhere that could be called follow-up reporting. Given the unprecedented nature of this event, it would be tremendously helpful if we outsiders might be kept informed. Thanks.
Walter Zimmermanof NJ12:34PM November 22, 2009
We tend to forget that the physicist Georges Lemaître proposed what became known as the Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe. We also forget that Monsignor Georges Lemaître was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest, honorary prelate, professor of physics and astronomer at the Catholic University of Leuven and an elected member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Lemaître himself described his theory as "the Cosmic Egg exploding at the moment of the creation." It should not be surprising that the Church of the 20th and 21st century should embrace science otherwise it would be placing limitations on the Creator.
Denisof MO10:32PM November 13, 2009
thanks for "stooping" - I often "stoop". I'll do so again.
First, let me say that I am sorry you had a bad experience at your grand-children's school. Although your assessment of my comments as B.S. leads me to suspect that you are prone to hyperbolic responses to those with whom you disagree.
Further, I infer that the B.S. you refer is the following statement;
"Today there is indeed a religious war being waged. But its origin springs from the intolerant religion of Dogmatic Science and Environmentalism - Which hold as their Genesis, the Big Bang of self creating or eternal matter and energy which, through the magic of astronomically unlikely coincidence, self organized, created a dimension of time and space, and later auto-animated. It should be noted that the "eternalness" of energy, matter physics and natural laws (nature) as a "first cause" is as mind boggling as an eternal, creative consciousness - outside of time."
Chuck, I am not anti-science - I qualified my comments by using the term "Dogmatic Science". In case you're wondering, and even if you're not, Dogmatic Science is generally science that is intolerant and imperious. Their intolerance is a defense mechanism - They feel the need to protect their self contained theories and protect the fragile foundation upon which they rest.
You were apparently unable to understand the point of the paragraph in question.
I will try and simplify it. There are only two choices with regard to the origin of the universe. Science proposes the "Big Bang" as the answer. However, one easily sees that it is no answer, and merely begs the question and does not address the issue at hand. Let's suppose you park your Ford at the mall. When you return you find a smoking hole and a fireman filling out a report. You rush to the fireman and ask, "What happened to my car?" Fireman responds, "A Big Bang." Are you satisfied with that explanation? Of course not, but you do accept it from scientists for the creation of the universe - but your missing Ford - no way.
So, the two choices are these; In the beginning there was pre-existing energy, matter. "Something" caused it to explode and in so doing, time, space, laws of physics, gravity came to be, and all self organized. Later parts of it auto animated - at odds of billions to one - all resulting in a perfectly balanced universe. Creation by eternal matter, energy. Followed by happy coincidence and trick of chance - no plan. Neat.
On the other hand you have an eternal, creative consciousness as the "first cause" of all the above.
So you can readily see that if you are a "dogmatic" scientist you must, of necessity, obscure and protect the flimsy foundation upon which you stand - for it is nothing more than faith in eternal mass, energy, coincidence and happenstance. This need to protect their foundation of unanswered questions often leads to attacking those who suggest the alternative.
God, evolution and the Big Bang are not incompatible.
R.L Schaeferof CA5:20PM November 13, 2009
I don't usually stoop to commenting on other readers comments, but R.L.Schaeffer, your belief that if you can't dazzle them with brilliance you should baffle them with B.S. is showing.
The Pope's action is encouraging, but it's too early to guess what the results will be. In this country, private schools appear to be exempt from the "separation of church and state" doctrine that public schools are expected to respect.
I have grandkids whose parents send them to a private "Christian" (not Catholic) school. Visiting on Grandparents Day, I was distressed when my granddaughters' teacher had all the children shout in unison "We hate science!!" This school teaches that science is evil, scientists are agents of Satan. These children, in my opinion, are being deprived of the opportunity for a career in any of the most satisfying, rewarding and productive fields, involving the many branches of science. It is a great loss to the children and to our society. Why can't we figure out some way to keep ancient religious myths and superstitions such as "Creationism" out of all our schools, and let all our children have the opportunities to which they are entitled?
Chuck S.of OR4:08PM November 13, 2009
"--a recent poll finding that just 4 in 10 Americans believe in evolution" ---
Don't misinterpret the poll results. Keep in mind that 6 in 10 Americans taking the poll haven't the slightest idea what "evolution" means.
Chuck S.of OR3:43PM November 13, 2009
Thanks Dan for showing how using SCIENCE is more beneficial for discussing religion. This is at the core of what I teach my 9th grade theology class in a Florida Catholic high school. My mantra, "Use science to talk about God and you have, THEOLOGY...DIALOGUE...PEACE.
Mr. Martinezof FL9:39AM November 13, 2009
Many children are forced to attend religious schools, so they will believe and never lose their faith. Maybe they are the chief dissenters to the process of evolution. There are teachers in public schools who try to sneak Creationism into their students' brains, but not all of them get to stay & spread their lies. We have the Smithsonian Institution, given by atheist James Smithson, as a very important preserver of natural science facts and discoveries. I wish it were not called "the theory of evolution." It is a process that continues all the time and will never cease. Darwin's book should be called "Darwin's Explanation of the Process of Evolution." As applies to churches, the word "conservative" means "conserving or keeping the old, obsolete, out-dated mistaken guesses of the past."
ajura dawnveirsof CA6:45PM November 12, 2009
You seem a tad miffed that the Vatican put Galileo on trial "...for arguing that the Sun was the center of the universe." Actually, he was put on trail (after several warnings) for writing a book, "Dialogue on Two World Systems" in which he, (through his fictional character, "Simplicio" - a moniker for his friend, Pope Urban the VIII) ridiculed the position of the Church - which simply said you are welcome to promote heliocentrism of the universe as a theory, but since you are not able to prove it, you may not proclaim it as fact. Galileo was willful and pressed his luck - published his theory as fact and delved into areas of theology as well. He was found guilty and sentenced to "informal" house arrest... Much of his house arrest consisted of staying with his personal friend, the Arch Bishop of Sienna. By that time Galileo was nearly blind and not apt to travel far in any event.
It was 150 years before telescopes had improved sufficiently to prove that Galileo was wrong - the sun is not the center of the universe.
Further, it should be noted that Galileo was a Catholic. He could have taken his book and published it in a protestant country - only one problem, nearly every protestant country threatened to burn him at the stake if he fell into their hands.
It should also be remembered that Galileo built upon the theories of Copernicus, a Catholic priest and doctor. Neither Copernicus or Galileo ever renounced their faith in the Church. Both scientists died as Catholics - in full communion with the Church.
Today there is indeed a religious war being waged. But its origin springs from the intolerant religion of Dogmatic Science and Environmentalism - Which hold as their Genesis, the Big Bang of self creating or eternal matter and energy which, through the magic of astronomically unlikely coincidence, self organized, created a dimension of time and space, and later auto-animated. It should be noted that the "eternalness" of energy, matter physics and natural laws (nature) as a "first cause" is as mind boggling as an eternal, creative consciousness - outside of time.
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martin leckie 7:12AM April 30, 2012
Walter Zimmerman of NJ 12:34PM November 22, 2009
Denis of MO 10:32PM November 13, 2009
R.L Schaefer of CA 5:20PM November 13, 2009
Chuck S. of OR 4:08PM November 13, 2009
Chuck S. of OR 3:43PM November 13, 2009
Mr. Martinez of FL 9:39AM November 13, 2009
ajura dawnveirs of CA 6:45PM November 12, 2009
R.L. Schaefer of CA 6:38PM November 12, 2009